2026 general election

The Chicago Tribune's Editorial Board has begun issuing endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election. The board's picks are a traditional influence in Illinois politics, particularly in Chicagoland races, and voters often weigh them ahead of primaries. Attention is on which candidates for state and local offices will receive the newspaper's backing.

Maryland's 2026 gubernatorial election is already in the spotlight, with local outlets publishing early voter's guides to help residents follow the race. The coverage signals growing interest in who will run and what the leading candidates stand for, well ahead of the primary and general elections next year.

County election officials in San Diego have begun mailing ballots to registered voters for the 2026 California general election. The mailing marks the start of voting under California's universal vote-by-mail system, which sends a ballot to every registered voter. Voters can return ballots by mail, at drop boxes, or in person, with officials urging early returns ahead of election day.

A new guide lays out the races and candidates Arkansas voters will face in the 2026 general election. It covers which statewide, legislative and local offices are up for grabs and who is running, giving residents a single reference point as campaigning picks up ahead of Election Day next year.